Food is Fun: L.A.'s Interactive Dining Experiences

1819 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (map)

The Viceroy Hotel's dishy formal restaurant is launching a series of wine events in late January that will enable oenophiles to sip and sample wine and food pairings at stations throughout the restaurant and iconic Kelly Wearstler-designed lounge, dining, bar and pool area. This tasty mixing and mingling will last until late June.

4212 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029 (map)

Talented flamenco performances and potent drinks are just part of this Silver Lake dinner theater's legacy. The musicians and dancers definitely overshadow the food, but if it's entertainment you're after--stomp your feet, flutter your skirts and find your way (with a flourish) to El Cid.

6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028 (map)

Any place calling itself a "media bistro" is clearly not just about noshing. Prefer touchscreen ordering to service with a smile? Video trivia games--some of them restaurant-wide--while you wait as opposed to idle chit chat? Then, Hollywood and Highland's "social entertainment restaurant" is just the virtual ticket.

5900 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (map)

Elvis may have preferred peanut butter to peanut sauce, but this devout Thai establishment doesn't let that get in the way. If you haven't sat at one of the boisterous communal tables drinking Singha and cheering on the varied karoake acts--including the crowd-drawing "Thai Elvis" himself--then you simply haven't experienced one of Hollywood's most fun restaurants, thank you very much.

31 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 (map)

Garlic knots, cheap Chianti, crayons for drawing on the paper tablecloths, forced singing of "That's Amore" with the waitstaff every 20 minutes or so ... This Venice family-friendly eatery isn't for everyone, but if you like cheese on and off your Italian fare--you may just be moonstruck.